My name is Paula Coughlin, and in 1991, I brought to light sexual assault that had become rampant in the military. When I first went
public about my assault in 1991, during the Tailhook scandal, I never imagined
that I would still be repeating the same calls for reform today. It was over
two decades ago that I first spoke out about the culture of misogyny and
impunity in our military. The crisis has only gotten worse. And, now a solution
is within reach, if the Senate will bring the Military Justice Improvement Act
(MJIA) to vote.

Protect Our Defenders hears daily from service members who
have been dissuaded from reporting, retaliated against, and harassed by their peers
and their chain of command. Victims are often put through a grueling and
humiliating justice process. Their credibility and motives are impeached. Their
privacy is violated. Their rapists' commander decides whether they will even
have the possibility of justice.

Over 26,000 sexual crimes occurred in the military in 2012
alone. 92% of victims choose not to come forward. Of those few who do, 62% of
women report retaliation. Over 50% of victims believe that nothing will be
done. All of this is the direct result of structural failings of the military
justice system.

The sexual assault epidemic persists because our military
justice system is failing victims.

There is a solution – the Military Justice Improvement Act would start to bring justice to
victims and survivors. It takes the prosecutorial function out of the hands of
inherently biased and untrained commanders and puts it into the hands of
professional military prosecutors.

But, Senator Claire McCaskill and Senator Kelly Ayotte have
threatened to filibuster the Military Justice Improvement Act from even coming
up for a vote.

Justice should not be
filibustered.

Victims and their families deserve a vote. There is clear
support for MJIA from veterans groups, the public, and a bipartisan majority of
the Senate. However, a dogged few persist in denying justice to our troops.
They will undoubtedly find themselves on the wrong side of history.

Now is the time. No
more excuses. No more delays. Congress must act.

As a survivor who has waited more than twenty years for the
military to live up to their promise of zero tolerance, I urge Congress to stand
with us and ensure that our brave service members are afforded a justice system
equal to the system afforded to the civilians they protect.